Sujudi hopes no serious HMFD outbreak in Indonesia

Sujudi hopes no serious HMFD outbreak in Indonesia

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi asserted on
Saturday that most Indonesian children have a strong resistance
to infectious diseases thanks to various cultural and ecological
factors.

"Based on this fact I strongly hope that there will be no
outbreak of infectious diseases such as HMFD (Hand Foot and Mouth
Disease) which is caused by Enterovirus," Sujudi told The Jakarta
Post on the sidelines of the Healthy Indonesia 2010 ceremony at
Pondok Indah Mall here.

The physical resistance of Indonesians to disease was usually
high due to their ability to adjust to natural conditions, he
said.

"Most children living in remote areas usually recover from
illness naturally and they don't fall sick easily ," Sujudi said.

Cases of HMFD have been recorded in the country in the past
couple of months after at least 30 children had been treated for
the disease in South Jakarta.

"The ministry also recorded on October 27 this year five cases
of HMFD found in Batam, Riau province."

"In Jakarta, cases of the illness first appeared in Bogor,
Bekasi and Depok. All related agencies have been notified to
intensify surveillance and prevention," Sujudi said.

The minister also reiterated that HMFD had nothing to do with
foot and mouth diseases found in cattle. "HMFD cannot be
transmitted by animals."

"People always think that it comes from cows. That's wrong."

"Enterovirus, the virus that causes the illness is entirely
different. It usually dies in dry conditions or in direct
exposure to sunlight after a few hours. If people wash their
clothes with bleach, the virus will die in a matter of minutes,"
the minister later stated in written data made available to the
Post.

Its incubation period was between three to five days and those
who were infected by the virus may be cured in between seven and
10 days, he said.

Enterovirus enters the body and (usually) stays in the throat,
and from there it begins to create cell damage, such as mouth
ulcers or rashes on the hands or feet. High fever follows.

"The virus can be fatal if there is are complications such as
encephalitis (if the virus strikes the brain) or myocarditis (if
it attacks the heart). But this happens in very rare cases," he
said.

The outbreak of HMFD illness hit neighboring countries of
Singapore and Malaysia over the past few months. In Singapore at
least 1,150 children under five were recorded as having
contracted the illness, four of whom died.

Sujudi further said that there were many types of strains of
diseases that people must be alert to.

"The Enterovirus-71 which hit Singapore has other strains and
classifications such as poliovirus, Coxsackie A Virus and
Coxsackie B Virus," he said.

According to the ministry, there were at least 5,999
Enterovirus 71 cases in an outbreak in Malaysia, killing 31
people in 1997. (edt)